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With the precision of a Swiss watch, the cold and flu season started at the Shepard house within days of the opening of school. A month later the sniffles, sneezing, and fever are still sticking around.

Each girl has taken a trip to the doctor. During Marni's recent trip, she got so upset at the doctor that she threw up all over herself, Lisa, and the examination room. She really has a dislike for doctors (unlike Stella who loves to go to the doctor).

And, for the first time ever, all four of us have been sick at the same time. This was the "perfect storm" that I was always afraid of. But neither Lisa or I were sick enough to keep us from handling the kids.

Handwriting Breakthrough

Last night Stella asked me to help her write Marni's name. I wrote "Marni" on a piece of paper, gave it to her, and forgot about it.

A little while later she called me over and showed me what she did. For the first time ever, she correctly wrote out Marni's name (or anyone's name for that matter). I wrote Stella's name on a piece of paper and a few minutes later she had correctly written it out herself.

Ok, so other boys and girls her age can easily do this. But, in our house, this was a milestone.

Marni's Pirate Dress

She loves it. When she isn't wearing it, she's carrying it around with her.

Question: Exactly how many times does the Pirate Dress appear in The Daddy Diary prior to this post?

Rosh Hashanah

The Shepards went on a two-city Jewish New Year Tour this past week.

On Saturday we were off to Albany with a brief stop in Saugerties to visit the Garlic Festival. Then, on Sunday, over to Troy to take part in Grandpa Sidney's unveiling. The trip to the cemetery got Stella very interested in death and Grandpa Sidney. So much so that she continued to talk about Sidney for days and eventually requested a photo of him so that she wouldn't miss him.

On Monday, Carol and Norman hosted Rosh Hashanah dinner for 29. The kids had a blast and really enjoyed seeing baby Hannah again.

Tuesday we were in Natick for services. The kids behaved themselves in the big service and in the kids' service.

Theo and Cindy joined us that night for dinner as they continued their visit to New England.

On Wednesday we went to services again and then headed back to Brooklyn.

Tickle-Teeth Update

I haven't updated the tooth-brushing status since last January. A lot has happened since then and most of it is due to Marni.

The combination of Marni growing some teeth, and wanting to do everything that Stella does had led to teamwork and healthy competition in the tickle-teeth department.

Now, whenever we announce that it is time to brush teeth, Marni screeches with joy and rockets down the hallway into the bathroom. Not wanting to be left behind, Stella chases after her and gets on her pink stool. And the dual teeth-brushing event is off to the races! I think Marni would gladly brush her teeth 15 times a day if we let her. And Stella is finally done with her tooth brushing battles.

Visiting Tyler and Delia

It was time for a road trip to New Jersey for an afternoon of fun in the sun with cousins Tyler and Delia. Nana Audrey and Papa Harold were babysitting along with Grandma-In-Law Carol.

It was boiling hot outside, so the kids stripped down and "painted" the deck with water. Next, time to play on Tyler's new mega swing set. The slide was broiling from the sun, so we cooled it down with water. This led to wet and muddy bottoms. This, in turn, led to a fun-filled play time in Brian and Jills mega-shower.

It didn't take long for both girls to pass out on the ride home.

Sisters

Overheard #8 (Stella)

Over the weekend we pulled into a gas station to fill up the car. Stella asked why. Lisa explained that the car needed food just like people so it would have energy to move. She went on to explain that instead of food like people eat, cars "ate" gas.

Stella then asked: "The kind of gas that comes out of our tushies?"

We wish that was the case because the Shepard family could then solve the energy crisis!

Stella Starts Public School

Today was a milestone for our big girl, Stella. This morning the four of us walked over to P.S. 39 to start Stella in Pre-K.

We met Ms. Cassens, Stella's teacher, and got a look at her new classroom. Stella was very excited and in good spirits. She told Ms. Cassens her name when asked and even told everyone what her sister's name was.

After the one hour orientation, Stella went over to have a little chat with Ms. Cassens and thank her for sending her the book Owl Babies.

Tomorrow Stella goes back to school on her own (for an hour). Hopefully no drama. It's hard to believe that we have a girl in public school. How did this happen!!!

Bye Bye Summer

And so the three New York Shepards sadly packed up the cottage; said goodbye to Beverly, Dana, and Steve; and motored back to Natick to join up with Stella.

Lisa and I kept looking at each other in disbelief as we prepared to head home. How did the summer go so fast? Even Marni seemed a little confused by it all. I have to say that the summer in Old Orchard is the highlight of my year. It's what I look forward to most in the year. And to have it slip away so fast is devastating.

Although the idea of staying at the beach for a whole month seems heavenly to some, it is really quite an undertaking for Lisa. She has the kids 24/7, and is running a virtual bed and breakfast most of the month. She did a fantastic job as the head of the household, but next year we may have to make some changes in order to reduce her stress.

Just before we headed home from Maine, we added a set of super-cool bike roof racks to the mini van. This will make it a lot easier and a lot less stressful to carry our bikes all over the place.

After a 24 hour visit with Nana and Papa Shepard, we found a few square feet of extra space in the Odyssey to shove in Stella, and headed back to Brooklyn. Stella slept part of the way. Marni didn't sleep at all and never shut up for one second!

Brooklyn was just as we left it. The girls were happy to be home and were thrilled to be reunited with the toys they left behind. Soon the apartment was in shambles.

That night Marni work up crying at about 12:30. That's a bit unusual, but I guess she wasn't quite use to her bedroom yet. After I got Marni back to sleep, Stella came up to sleep with us. This marks the one year anniversary of the beddy-buddy truce (when I decided not to fight with Stella if she wants to come up and sleep with us).

Today we took a walk with Stella (and Marni) to see her new school. Then we biked to Prospect Park and had a picnic. The girls are now asleep and tomorrow is Stella's first day of public school! Marni starts back at Raindrops on Wednesday.

I've been asked by a lot of people if the constant commuting between New York City and Maine in August is disorienting. Not really. The most disorienting event is the end of the summer when we all come back from Maine into the city. I feel completely lost. It will probably take a week or two to get back into the regular flow of life. But for right now... things are just strange.

Fun with Nana and Papa

Nana and Papa Shepard came up to OOB last Wednesday and brought Stella back with them to Natick for a few days of fun.

The main event was a trip to Boston with a very ducky theme. The threesome took the T into town and headed for the Boston Public Garden to ride a swan boat and see the statue of the ducks from the "Make Way for Ducklings" book that Stella loves so much.

Next stop was a ride on the Boston Duck Tour, where they all took a sightseeing adventure on land and sea.

The next day Stella got a haircut and played a lot around the house in Natick.

On Saturday we were greeted by a crazy-happy Stella who met us at the top of Nana and Papa's driveway as we arrived from OOB.

I Can't Take It!

Last Labor Day weekend I got really bummed out about the end of the season at OOB. The girls really had a great time at The Cottage and I just couldn't bear to take them back to Brooklyn. My sadness was quite overwhelming.

I was kinda hoping that this year would be different.

Well, all indications are that I will be just as bummed out this year as I was last year.

Just like last year, my parents came up during the last week to bring Stella back to Natick for fun and frolic. Marni was evidently not very happy about this and everyone realizes that next year Marni will be too big to leave behind!

Just like last year I flew in and was greeted by just my youngest girl. Unlike last year, the weather today is not cool and gloomy. And after her nap this afternoon we will be able to get into our bathing suits and have one last adventure on the beach.

But I really have to stop getting bummed out about the end of summer!

Overheard #7 (Stella)

Not sure where it came from, but this past weekend Stella started with the nonstop use of the phrase "Oh my God!". Whenever anything was the least bit exciting... OMG!

Her delivery is very reminiscent of the character Janice in Friends. Remember? Chandler Bing's on-again off-again girlfriend.

Now even though her use of OMG is kinda cute right now, if she begins to sound too much like Janice, then we are going to have to have an intervention.

Animal Time

Sunday started out a bit cloudy so the Shepards and Hoffmans jumped into the minivans and headed down to York's Wild Kingdom.

The kids saw monkeys, goats, an elephant, bears, tigers, deer, all types of birds, and even butterflies. Stella and Tyler rode a pony and we also helped to feed the elephant. The best part (IMHO) was the petting zoo where the kids got to hang out with and feed little goats. When we were last there two years ago, Stella was too scared to feed the goats. This year she had no fear and was demanding that I buy more food so she could keep feeding her new friends. Marni (who was 4 months old the last time she was there) was also quite a brave girl.

Fun With The Hoffmans

Cousins Tyler and Delia came to visit this past week. Shortly after their arrival on Thursday, the four cousins headed off to the beach for some splashing, digging, and running. The next day I flew in and it was back to the beach for more of the same.

Over the weekend the were bike rides, a trip to "downtown", and lots of ice cream eating. The kids played together without bloodshed and the newest member of the walking club, Delia, kept up with her three older playmates (while wearing her favorite hat 24/7).

On the last night of their visit, Brian and Jill joined us for a lobster-fest. We were joined by Stella who has found a taste for lobster to go along with her taste for gruyere cheese and Perrier. We are so screwed!

Tale of the Tape - OOB Edition

For the past two years we have kept track of the girls' growth by marking their height on a wall in the kitchen at The Cottage. Rachel and Noah have their progress recorded there too.

The tale of the tape shows that Stella has grown about 2 inches since the same time last year. Marni has grown over 4 inches since then! Interestingly, Marni is an inch taller right now than Stella was at the same age. Watch out Stella! She's coming for ya.

Happy Birthday Blog!

We're just a couple of days short of this blog's first birthday! It's been a great year and I've had a lot of fun blogging all of the family's adventures.

So far, 61 posts. Hopefully many, many more to come.

The Duck

While in Portland on Thursday, the family embarked on a new adventure... the Downeast Duck Adventures!

The tour started at Long Wharf. Stella was super excited. Marni, not so much. After a few minutes Marni got into the swing of things and was screeching with delight. Eventually we made it to the water's edge and, just as promised, the bus became a boat! Big smiles from Stella. After tooling around Casco Bay for a while, we drove back up onto dry land for the remained of the tour. A definite "two thumbs up" from Stella and Marni.

My Vacation Week

Sunday the 10th marked the beginning of my vacation week at OOB. The previous week was a mostly rainy week. But the Rapp family from Texas and Nana and Papa Hoffman helped make the week a whole lot of fun for the girls. The Rapps actually took Stella to see her first movie in a movie theater (Wall-e).

The beginning of this week was still rainy. So there were trips to the Mall and to the brand new Cabella's. By mid-week the skys were clearing and we were able to get to the beach for some of the day and also take some bike rides. Lisa and I discovered the Eastern Trail in Scarborough. On Friday we brought the bikes out again and headed to Huot's in Camp Ellis. We all enjoyed a delicious lunch in the sunshine at the town dock. We also bumped into OOB neighbors Dana, Isabella, and David as they were fishing and crabbing. The girls jumped right into the action. On Saturday, Lisa's childhood friend Amy and her family dropped by for the day and took advantage of the sunny beach, delicious lobster rolls and a trip to "downtown".

Later that evening (after everyone had left), we all walked down to the beach to watch the full moon rise over the ocean.

Old Orchard Beach 2008

A little over two weeks ago the Shepard family packed up the minivan and headed up to our annual month-long vacation destination, OOB.

A lot of traffic and a healthy amount of stops contributed to a 10-hour trip. Many of the stops involved me pulling over to make sure that our bikes were still attached to the back of the car. The girls did great throughout the whole trip. Since Nana and Papa Shepard were still winging their way back from Russia, the visit in Natick was a short one. Just long enough to grab some lunch, change a diaper, and stretch our legs. At 8 pm we pulled up to the cottage and began the unloading process.

The first thing we did was eat the pizza and pasta that we picked up from the nearby strip mall while picking up some essential groceries. After dinner the beds were made and Stella got a first look at her beautiful princess bed linens that mom bought for her. She loved them. The girls finally got to sleep somewhere between 10 and 11.

Unfortunately, August 2008 has got to be one of the wettest Augusts in the history of Maine. There was no beach day the first weekend (there would be very few beach days for the next two weeks). Nana and Papa Shepard showed up Saturday and stayed until Sunday. Nana and Papa Hoffman arrived Sunday to stay the week. Cousin Marcy and baby Hannah also arrived Sunday for a few days. Sadly, I had to fly back to NYC on Monday morning. Although I missed the rain. I also missed the girls.